Academics

Course delivery details will continue to evolve in the coming weeks

The Armillary Sphere outside Old Main on Penn State's University Park campus.  Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — While a number of Penn State course selections are being displayed in LionPATH at this time, those courses and their delivery methods may change in the coming weeks as more information and analysis are conducted by the University and the schedule is updated.

“Planning for the fall semester is a complex, multi-layered process that is not complete. By July 6, the University will be able to take a comprehensive look at the course plans of instructors and departments across colleges and campuses,” said Yvonne Gaudelius, associate vice president and senior associate dean for Undergraduate Education. “This process will take a few weeks, as we are examining the best mix of in-class, remote and online instruction that can be achieved. We are considering many factors, from room availability, class size and physical distancing capabilities, to faculty and student health and safety considerations.”

Some students may have already seen in LionPATH preliminary information about changes to the mode in which a class will be taught —  particularly those that may have been more likely to be delivered remotely, Gaudelius said. However, the course mode may change more than once during this period as the University’s plans evolve to best manage classroom capacities. Penn State is making decisions based on the latest public-health guidance from the commonwealth and governor.  

“Our goal is to have most decisions finalized by July 15 and provide opportunities for students to take a fresh look at their schedules, and to potentially change their courses if they want to take ones that offer in-class instruction or if they need to switch to remote offerings,” she explained. “We encourage students to consult with their academic adviser as they work to make changes to their schedule.”

Additionally, the University announced it remains flexible related to existing Housing contracts, and students who decide to study remotely can cancel their contract with no penalty. Because Housing availability is contracted for both fall and spring semesters, Housing officials ask that students who are already thinking of spring semester and want to retain the spring portion of their contract, should consult with the Housing office at their campus.  

For the most current information on fall plans, visit keeplearning.psu.edu.

Last Updated July 15, 2020